Croatia beat Azerbaijan for third straight win

• Andrej Kramarić marks third international game with his second goal 
• Mateo Kovačić is forced off injured midway through the first half
• Croatia fall short of their biggest EURO win – 7-0 v Andorra in 2006
• Croatia equal best start to EURO campaign set under Miroslav Blažević for Euro '96
• Next games: Italy v Croatia, Azerbaijan v Norway (16 November)

Croatia turned on the style as they made it three wins from three in Group H to equal their best start to a UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign.

With victories over Malta and Bulgaria under their belt, the prospect of a third success always seemed likely when Andrej Kramarić put the hosts 1-0 up inside 11 minutes against Azerbaijan. Three more strikes before the break all but confirmed it. Luka Modrić added another from the spot on 56 minutes before Rashad F Sadygov salted the visitors' wounds by putting through his own net.

The Croatian win matched their best ever start to EURO qualifying set under Miroslav Blažević 20 years ago, and it was never really in doubt in Osijek. An injury to Mateo Kovačić midway through the first period was a setback but his replacement Ivan Perišić made a big impression, scoring twice before the break, both of them excellent headers. Another goal from Marcelo Brozović at the end of the half meant the writing was on the wall for Azerbaijan.

Modrić got in on the act after Darijo Srna was brought down before exiting to a standing ovation, then Sadygov completed a miserable night for visitors still without a point.